The Digest | New Jersey Magazine
Issue link: https://magazines.vuenj.com/i/579577
are a great solution for those who are smaller or larger and therefore have trouble finding that specific size. There are also those who have problems with posture which may affect the way a suit lays on your body. All these are good reasons for considering a custom suit. If you're going to go custom, the first thing you look for is quality, and when talking quality, where your suit comes from is key. This is something Sal Lauretta's takes very seriously. "We are still avoiding the Chinese market," explained Lauretta. "All our custom clothing has been made in North America or in Italy. Chinese clothing is definitely getting better but it is by no means approaching the level of a good North American or Italian suit." While most of us may not notice the difference in quality, to a trained eye, "you can smell a Chinese suit a mile away," said Lauretta. Compared to a ready-to-wear suit, a custom suit can cost you 20-30% more depending on the fabric or other customizations, which is to be expected if you are looking for those extra details and precise fit. "Canali, one of our biggest vendors, cost around $2,000 off the rack, and a custom Canali is about $2,500-3,500," said Lauretta. At Sal Lauretta's, designing a custom suit requires 25-35 measurements, after which you choose the fabric, of which they have upwards of 4,000 to choose from at any given time. Those measurements and details are then sent to the suit manufacturer who assembles the garment and then sends it back to Sal Lauretta's unfinished. From there, the client comes in for an initial fitting, during which the tailor sees what tweaks may be needed, and also mark the sleeves and pant bottoms for the final length. "More times than not the customer's garment will be perfected and ready to wear by the third visit to our store," explained Lauretta. When that suit is ready, you are not just wearing a garment, but something uniquely you, both in shape and concept. You will look in that mirror and smile, not just because you look good, but because you feel good. W W W. V U E N J . C O M 23